Hanji artist statement
Paper that carries
a family history.
“A delicate appearance holding remarkable resilience.”
My earliest memory of Hanji is of an old family genealogy book my father showed me when I was young. It traced our family through generations. I remember its worn, rough edges and how well the paper had endured. To me, it reflected a strength I associate with my Korean heritage: a delicate appearance holding remarkable resilience. Since my father’s passing, this memory has become especially meaningful.
In my work, I develop that relationship between softness and strength through my own process. I moisten Hanji with glue and shape it by hand. As it dries, the paper becomes firm enough to hold its form, while retaining its soft, uneven edges. I then bring these individual forms together into a larger composition.
The small pieces remind me of individual lives within a family history—each distinct, yet connected. Through Hanji, I explore how memory and belonging take shape, and how something seemingly fragile can carry strength across generations.